Thank you for asking this question. Many of my friends and relatives have also asked me a similar question.
First, there is St John's wort that can be bought over the counter at the pharmacy. It is meant for mild cases of depression. In some countries where access to doctors is not readily available, people do use St John's wort to relieve depression. It may not be effective in moderate or severe cases of depression.
Second, there is melatonin that can be bought over the counter, to relieve sleep symptoms. Some of my patients report that melatonin helps them to overcome jet lag, for example, when they fly back to Singapore from America or Europe. It is safe for short term use but it is not advisable to use it for many months as studies have indicated that even when a small dose of melatonin is taken, the blood level may be very high. We are not sure what the long term consequences are, when the body is exposed to such high levels of melatonin over a prolonged period of time.
Third, some patients told me that they use an antihistamine for their sleep. You can check with the pharmacist near your place which antihistamine can be bought over the counter. An antihistamine may work for a few days but many patients report after the first few days, the medicine starts to lose its effects of enabling them to fall asleep. Elderly people may become confused the next day after taking an antihistamine for sleep aid.
For the treatment of mood problems and insomnia, oftentimes we need to figure out the underlying causes of the condition (in medicine, we call this the etiology). It may be better to seek help from a mental health professional. Your records with the doctors will be kept confidential. If you are reluctant to seek medical attention, you can also consider talking to a counsellor at the Family Service Centre near your place or at a counselling centre.
I hope that you will soon get the help that you need.
